Never Ignore These 3 Furnace Smells

Many seasonal smells bring back memories of holidays past and enjoyable traditions. There are certain furnace smells, however, that are anything but pleasant, and almost certainly lead to a safety hazard.

If you ignore these three furnace smells, you could be putting you and your family at risk:

By the time you smell a musty odor, it’s likely that mold or mildew has been forming for awhile. It’s particularly problematic when a musty odor emanates from the heating ducts, as the origination of the mold or mildew may be the furnace system, the cooling system or the ductwork. You may need to have the system cleaned by a professional, or the ductwork replaced.

If certain components within the furnace are wearing out or over-stressed, you may notice an overheated electrical smell. The electrical wires and motors within the furnace help to move air through the system and aid in combustion and, as these parts or wires wear out, you may smell burning wires or rubber.

A few different scenarios cause a burning dust smell to be released from the furnace. After sitting idle over the long summer months, dust builds up inside the combustion chamber of the furnace. When you fire up the furnace for the first few times, that dust gets burnt off, which results in the burnt dust odor, and it may even release some smoke, too. If you start up the furnace without installing a new filter, you’ll run the furnace with a dirty, full filter, which could compound the situation. When a new furnace is installed, it will burn off some of the oil applied to the internal components to prevent rusting, releasing a burning odor.

If you notice these furnace smells, contact Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning immediately for expert help with furnace repair.

Contact Jon Wayne today. Our highly-trained, NATE-certified techs provide honest advice that’s tailored to your home’s needs and budget. Plus, when you choose us to install or repair your heating system, you can rest easy knowing that all work is backed by solid warranties and a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee.

Learn more about what to expect when you hire us by visiting our heating services page.